Hot water heater



Jan. 20, 1959 H R, KARLENv 2,870,318

HOT WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 8, 1958 IN V EN TOR www BYMMAJM, @a

HOT WATER HEATER Harvey R. Karien, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cory Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 590,852, June 12, 1956. This application January 8, 1958, Serial No. 707,832

6 claims. (ci. en -3s) This invention relates to a hot water heater and in particular to a hot water heater of the open-to-atmosphere type having means for preventing undesired dripping therefrom. p

This application is a continuation of my co-pending application Serial No. 590,852, tiled June 12, 1956, for a Hot Water Heater.

In the open-to-atrnosphere type of liquid heater, liquid is admitted to a closed tank from a suitable valved supply. The liquid is discharged from the tank through an open outlet normally disposed adjacent the top of the tank, and, as it is the supply means which is controlled to stop the liow, the liquid continues to run from the tank until the level of the liquid in the tank is below the level of the outlet. Because liquids such as water expand upon being heated, a serious problem arises in the presently known liquid heaters, namely, upon the heating of the liquid in the tank, the volume thereof increases causing the level to rise above the bottom of the outlet and liquid to drip therefrom.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a liquid heater of the open-to-atmosphere type having new and improved automatic means for preventing dripping of the liquid from the tank outlet.

A further object is to provide such a liquid heater adapted for use in beverage brewers wherein discharge of liquid from the heater tank may be impeded, as by a beverage charge.

Another object is to provide such a liquid heater wherein the means for preventing dripping from the outlet comprises an expansion tank extending to below the level of the outlet with a passage intercommunicating between the interior of 'the expansion tank and the interior of the main liquid tank below the level of the outlet and with suitable heating means extending to within the expansion tank for vaporizing the liquid therein when flow through the main tank is eifected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a liquid heater having a vacuum breaker associated with the outlet to allow passages of vapors and gases from and into 'the main tank and arranged to limit the ilow of liquid from the tank to through only the desired outlet duct.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figurel is an elevational view of a liquid heater ernbodying the'invention, with portions thereof shown in diametric section and with the electrical wiring thereof shown diagrammatically; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the liquid heater of Figure-1, with the elements thereof in the ilowshutoff condition.

' In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawings, a liquid heater is shown to comprise a tank 10 having a top 11 provided with an opento-atmosphere outlet generally designated 12. Secured to top 11 to extend downwardly into tank 10 to below Patented Jan. 20, 1959 r"ice the outlet 12 is an expansion tank or enclosure generally designated 13 having therewithin a heating means 14. A passage or opening 13a is provided in the bottom of tank 13 permitting free flow of liquid between the interior of tank and the interior of expansion tank 13.

Preferably adjacent the bottom of tank 10 and extending to interiorly thereof are a liquid supply inlet 15, a heating means 16, and a thermostat means 17 for automatcally controlling the heating means 16. To control ltank 10 by suitable sealing securing means 11a.

inlet 1S a suitable valve means 15a is provided. In the preferred embodiment, heating means 14 and valve means 15a are functionally correlated so that heating means 14 is energized only when the valve is open and liquid is caused to be discharged from outlet 12, the heating capacity of means 14 being sufficient to vaporize the liquid in tank 13 and force liquid from tank 13 into main tank 1i) during this discharge. Upon closing of valve 15a, the deenergization of heating means 14 permits a cooling and condensation of the vapor within tank 13 with the resultant below atmospheric pressure produced therein inducing a flow of the liquid in tank 1t) back into tank 13, with the volume of the liquid thus being drawn from tank 10 causing a lowering of the level of the liquid in tank 10 to substantially below outlet 12.

Top 11 is preferably secured across the upper end of While expansion tank 13 may be disposed interiorly or exteriorly of tank 1i) for purposes of illustrating the invention, it is 'shown fixedly secured to the underside of top 11 to depend into the upper portion of the tank 10 with opening 13a being provided in the bottom thereof. In the illustrative embodiment of the drawings, heating means 14 comprises an electrically energized heating rod having its lends brought through the top of tank 13 and top 11 for stern portion of connection 12a is arranged to receive a suitable connecting duct 20 for conducting the heated liquld such as water to a desired device, such as a coffee brewing cartridge (not shown). A vacuum breaker 12b 'is secured to the other leg of connection 12a and operates to allow air to pass into the upper portion of tank 10 when liquid is being withdrawn from tank l0 into expansion tank 13. Further, the vacuum breaker is arranged to allow the discharge of vapors such as steam from tank 10 thereby functioning as a safety device should thermolstat 17 improperly ailow heating means 16 to be continuously energized with ow through duct 2d being prevented. Breaker iZb is further arranged to be closed by the action of liquid flowing from tank iti and outwardly through duct 2G thereby precluding undesired loss of liquid through the breaker. The illustrated embodiment of vacuum breaker 12 comprises a tubularxnembcr connected at one end to have communication through connection 12a with the interior of tank 10 and including a movable ball 12o freely resting on a pin 12a to allow the passage of gases such as air or steam therearonnd but movable by the action of liquid in connection 12a to be raised to a position wherein it closes off inlet passage 12e of the vacuum breaker.

Valve 15a perferabiy is of the elcctric-solenoid type and is arranged to be connected in parallel with electrical heating means 14 so that heating means 14 is energized only when the valve is open and liquid is passing through tank 1li. Any suitable means for controlling the energization of valve 15a and heating means 14 may be used, a switch 15b being shown for this purpose.

Heating means 16 may be connected as shown to electric supply 19 through thermostat 17 so that the tem- 'perature of the liquid in tank ttl is maintained at the desired point at all times. ,Vhere the liquid heater is used in a collec brewer, for example, this temperature would be approximately 199 F.

5ba operation ol my liquid heater may 'oe best seen by first referring to l w 'ch shows the device in the hot-watcr-discharging c nhtion. Thus7 switch i512 closed to open valve lila and energize heating means le. The opening of valve lila causes water to enter the bottom ol tank from inlet l, thereby forcing the previously heated water in the upper portion of the tank outwardly through outl .l2 and duct ZS. The heat generated in heating means 14 causes previously heated water in enclosure l?, substantially immediately to reach the boiling point with the resultant pressure increase in the enclosure being suicient to overcome the pressure ot the liquid iu tank lill and force all liquid outwardly from the enclosure and into the main heatiny means is conng this phase the operation, ion is maintained at all times to maiuun or similar Vapor pained into the liquid in taut; itt is generally assimilated by the body of liquid therein so that by the time the liquid reaches outlet' open- .plis the gaf-:cous phase has disappeared. `s only a ,atively small body o liquid is originally within tank the a siuailaticn of the vaporized liquid therefrom into the main body o liquid in tank lll does not apprcciably raise the temperature of the liquid being passed outwardly from outlet l2.

"lurning now more particularly to Fig. 2, the functionol my device upon the closing or -valve Ilta may be seen. Thus, when the inlet valve is closed discontirming:7 'flow of liquid into tank flow from outlet l2 stops, the level of liquid in connection of duct l this level were tained, however, the subsequent heating by heating means 16 of the recently inducted, relatively cool water from inlet into tank lll would cause, by resulting expansion of the water in tank ilu, the level of the at outlet l2 to rise slowly and effect a dripping thereof from duct However, as seen in 2, when heatir means le is dcenergized concurrently with the closing.,7 oi valve rl, Vapor within expansion tank corr denses thereby forming a vacuum in tank and inducing a iiow of liquid rorn tan" il backwardiy into expansion tank until the level of liquid in tank is substanti t below outlet By ma the capacity or' expansion suttciently large, the total expansion of the liquid in tank as caused by the subsequent heating thereof may be accommodated with the level of tl .4 liquid talk lll being maintained below the outlet. Should duct for any reason be closed, vacuum brea er 'l2/i allows the entry of tnrough con ection 12a into the top portion of tank l@ to allow unimpeded suction of 'the liquid into tank i3.

While l have shown and described ertain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modilications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing 'tl' he spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed .ed claims.

,o-proot liquid heater comprising: a closed tank having a top; an open outlet through the tank at for effecting liquid liow into the tank; ring liquid in the tank; and means for lowerlevel in tbe tank to below the outlet when tert is discon m., including an s us communicating between the interior of the enclosure and the interior of the tank below said outlet to al w a quantity of liquid to be disposed with said enclosure, and heating means associated with said enclosure operable concurrently with said means for L .k eiecting liquid flow to vaporize the liquid in said cnclosure during liquid flow through the tank, and to be deenergized upon discontini. ce ci flow causing a pressure` to exist in said enclosure which is lower than the pressure in the tank at the passage to induce flow of liquid thereinto from the liquid in thc tank.

2. A drip-proof liquid heater comprising: a closed tank having r top; un open outlet through the tank at the top; me for electing liquid tlow into the tank; means for hearing liquid in the tank; and means for lowering the liquid level in the tank to below the outlet when liquid flow therethrough is discontinued, including au enclosure in said tank and having an opening communicating with the interior of the tank below said outlet to allow a y of liquid to oe disposed within said enclosure, and heating means associated with said enclosure operable concurrently with said means lor effecting liquid llow to vaporize the liquid in said enclosure during liquid ow through the tank, and tc be deenergized upon discontinuance or flor causing a pressure to exist in said cnclosure which is lower than the pressure in the tank at the opening to induce flow of liquid thereinto from the liquid in the tank.

3. A drip-prooi" liquid heater comprising: a closed tank having a top; an open-to-atmosph-ere outlet through said top; valve means operable to permit gas ilov.' iu and out oi the top portion of said tank but arranged to uc closed whenever liquid is flowing from said tank through said outlet; means for effecting liquid flow into the tank; means for heating liquid in the tank; and means for lowering the liquid in the tank to below' the outlet when liquid flow therethrough is discontinued, including an enclosure, passage means communicating between the interior of the enclosure and the interior of the tank below said outlet to allow a quantity of liquid to be disposed within said enclosure, and heating means associated with said enclosure operable concurrently with said means tor eiecting liquid low to vaporize the liquid in said enclosure during liquid ow through the tank, and to be decu ergized upon discontinuance of flow causing a pressure to exist in said enclosure which is lower than the prossure in the tank at the passage means to induce lo'a' of liquid thereinto from the liquid in the 4. A dripeproof liquid heater comprising: a closed tank having a top; an open outlet through the tank at the top; means for elfecting liquid ilow into the tank includ ing an electrically operated, ow controlling valve; means for heating liquid in the tank; and means for lowering the liquid level in the tank to below the outlet when liquid flow therethrough is discontinued, including an enclosure, passage means communicating between the interior of the enclosure and the interior of the tank below said outlet to cause a quantity of liquid to be disposed within said enclosure, and electric heatim,y means in said enclosure arranged to be energized concurrently with the opening of said valve to vaporize the liquid in lsaid enclosure during liquid flow through the tank and to be deenergized upon closing of said valve causing a pressure to develop in said enclosure which is lower than the 'pressure in the tank at the passage means to induce ow of liquid thcreinto from the liquid in the tank.

5. A drip-proof liquid heater comprising: a tank havv ing a top; an open outlet through the tank at the top; an inlet to the tank; means for controlling llow of liquid through said inlet into the tank whereby the liquid may flow through the tank and from said outlet; means for heating liquid in the tank; and means for lowering the liquid level in the tank to below the outlet subsequent to a discontinuation of liquid flow through the tank, including means forV vaporizing at an elevated temperature a portion of the liquid between the inlet-and outlet during liquid flow through the tank, said means permitting; thc vaporized liquid to cool and be reduced in volume sul:v sequent to a discontinuation of the llow of liquid through the tank.

6. A drip-proof liquid heater means comprising: a tank having a top; an open outlet through the tank at the top; an inlet to the tank; means for controlling flow of liquid through said inlet into the tank whereby the liquid may iiow through the tank and from said outlet; and means for lowering the liquid level in the tank to below the outlet subsequent to a discontinuation of liquid flow through the tank, including a sealed enclosure communicating with the interior of the tank below the outlet to receive liquid from the tank and having associated therewith means heating and resultingly expanding the liquid in said enclosure during liquid ow through the tank, said means permittnig the expanded liquid to cool in said enclosure and contract to produce a reduced pressure in said enclosure subsequent to a discontinuation of the ow of liquid through the tank.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

